Page 94 of Blood of Dragons
“Then she has a very powerful ally, so you should tread carefully.”
The situation was just as intense as it’d been on the battlefield minutes ago. “Queen Eldinar, I didn’t know that General Titan had tracked me north of the mountains and to the forest. I have no idea how he figured out where I am?—”
“Perhaps it was the bright-red dragon that accompanied you.” She turned back to me, her stare ice-cold. “A beacon of fire placed directly upon the forest that attracted the vermin to crawl from the dark?—”
“Interrupt her again and see what happens,” Talon said coldly.
Queen Eldinar turned her wrath on him. “Should I put my blade to your neck to silence your words?”
“I welcome you to try,Your Highness.”
“Stop.” I raised both of my palms. “The three of us are allies. No more threats.”
“We are not allies,” she said coldly. “The elves would never align with the evil you’ve brought here. You disturbed the dead when they’ve already served with their lives. You desecrated our holy ground, raised fathers and mothers to fight sightless alongside us, unleashed horrors that will never heal.” She started to shake. “How dare you?”
Talon held her gaze.
“How dare you break the ground of their slumber and pull them from their peace? How dare you dishonor the dead?” Her eyes started to water, from either rage or pain. “How dare you?”
Talon’s hard expression didn’t change. “You would all be dead if I hadn’t.”
“A fate we would have preferred.”
“Your people gave their lives to defend this forest,” he said calmly. “I’m sure they would give up their afterlives to do the same.”
“Do not put words in the mouths of the dead?—”
“Do not assume their bravery has died just because their flesh has rotted from the bone. I’m sorry that I disturbed your loved ones, but the forest would have fallen without their aid, and it would be scorched to ash as we speak. If there was another way, I would have chosen differently, but Khazmuda and I couldn’t have defeated their army alone. We can stand here and insult each other back and forth, but what’s done is done. I don’t expect your gratitude, nor do I care to receive it, but I do want peace.”
“Don’t pretend you won’t try to conquer us next, just the way you’ve conquered everyone else.”
“I have no desire to do that.”
“Lies.”
“I can see that Calista has great affection for your people. I would never hurt or enslave the people she cares so deeply for. You can blame her for the attack upon your forest, but then you must also blame her for the pardon I’ve just granted you.”
Her eyes sharpened to daggers, but she didn’t speak.
“You owe her your gratitude, Queen Eldinar.”
She stared at him for a moment longer before she withdrew her rage. “My people need me more than ever, to carry the dead to their final resting place, to tend to the injured who are now permanently disabled as a consequence of this battle.”
“I’m happy to serve in any capacity that I can?—”
“Do not enter our forest. Do not touch our kind. We will speak when this has been handled.” Queen Eldinar walked off before Talon could say another word.
I watched her go before I turned back to Talon.
He stood tall and proud and watched her walk away. He turned to me a moment later. “I know this is where you’re needed right now. Come find me whenever you’re finished.”
I wanted to ask him to stay or volunteer to go with him, but I felt obligated to remain with the people who had risked their lives because of my foolishness. After a long stare, I finally gave a nod.
He turned away and walked off, moving through the crowd of people until he was gone from my sight.
It took days for the dead to be buried and the wounded to be transported to Riviana Star. I helped in whatever way I could, taking orders from Commander Luxe or anyone who was in charge at that moment. Riddled with so much guilt, I had a hard time looking anyone in the eye, because none of this would have happened if I hadn’t come here.
I wasn’t sure how General Titan had even known I left the castle. Talon would never share that information with him.